Live coverage: Alvarez to coach UW in Rose Bowl

Madison – We’re live from the Kohl Center media room on a wonderful Thursday morning to give you quick updates as Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez talks about his return to the sideline for the 2013 Rose Bowl. »Read Full Blog Post

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Arkansas did not follow protocol and get permission to talk to BB.Information that BB had taken the Arkansas job leaked back to UW before it was officially announced. The players found out first through the media that their coach was leaving and not from their head coach.If you remember, back round 1970, Bobby Knight was the head coach at Army and had interviewed for and accepted the UW basketball HC position. Info leaked back to Army that Knight had taken the UW job before it was officially announced. The end result was the he called UW and because the info was leaked, turned down the job.Like Knight or not, he has integrity. This seems to be what both the the University of Arkansas and BB lack.

What I got from his statement was that after he had asked friends to help Chryst get the job, he wouldn't feel right about signing him away from Pitt 1 year later. I get the impression Chryst feels the same way, and the timing just isn't right for his return

Recent event indicate that had he wanted to get more money, he could have gotten it by leaving.

As far as 'rebuilt stadium and practice facility', Barry had as much to do with at getting done as the rest of us combined; that isn't a 'cause' of him staying here, that's a *result* of him staying here.

i have heard quite often that football is only a game. That is true. It has ability,spirit,initiative,integrity,togetherness,appreciation.respect among other features. Isn't that also part of another game? It's called LIFE. What just happened in Madison shows the two games are not always compatable. Greed and selfserving are not part of either game.

You would think that Arkansas would reach out to Barry for permission to talk. They did not. You would think that BB would disclose the contact and request permission to talk with Arkansas. He did not. Sounds like Arkansas and BB are a perfect match for each other. Do you think that Arkansas will have any loyalty or patience with BB when he does not turn it around for Arkansas within 3 years. Nope. 4 years from now BB will be a very wealthy unemployed football coach regreting his decision to leave.

First ... I think its bush league for a school to NOT ask permission to talk to another school's coach about an open position ... especially if the candidate has a contract that goes longer than the end of the season.

Second ... I think the scenario that Mr. NoNO outlined is what could likely happen to BB.

Finally ... in another article I'm reading that Wisconsin assistant's left $225K comp packages for $400K comp packages as assistants somewhere else. While I think that's BIG money (obviously not as big as BB was making or will make), that is apparently "the market" for Top 25 (or maybe Top 10) contender assistants. If Wisconsin wants to position itself as a Top 10 contender or even have serious thoughts about a national championship, then Wisconsin needs to figure out how to fund those assistant comp packages at "the market". Whether its $5/ticket or to squeeze the boosters for a few more nickels; it has to be done.

I was at the UW-Madison from 1971 to 1975. Played in the band freshman for Leckrone. Football and basketball were medicore while hockey and crew were national championship contenders. Today is SO much different. Thanks to Donna Shalala, Pat Richter, Barry Alvarez, Brett Bielema, Dick Bennett, Bo Ryan, and others ... Wisconsin's athletics programs has been taken to a completely different level.

And don't forgot one important thing ... all this was done without NCAA or Big 10 sanctions, without lingering and historically embarrassing scandels, and with student athletes who for the most part have been first class men and woman both on and off the field, court, ice, or track.

As a Wisconsin alum ... I have lots to be proud of over the athletic programs.

Time for you "Fire Barry Alvarez" folks to dust off your comment playbooks.There were plenty of you back in the good old days. If you have lost them just use your "Fire Bret Bielema" comment playbooks.